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Snowboards

Snowboard Buyers Guide

Buying guide

These days' snowboards come in many different shapes and sizes. As a beginner/intermediate/ advanced rider it is important that you find a board that is the right length and also the weight range to suit you. Try not to be swayed by pretty colours, or a cool graphic, as it will not effect your riding at all. We know that Top sheet graphics can sell a board, but is it the right one for you? No one on the slope will care what your board looks like. Instead use The Board Basement search filters to find the right board for you.

Board Length

As a general guide the board should reach somewhere between your collarbone and your chin. Please note that the riders weight is also very important when choosing a board. If you are too lightweight for a board you will find it hard to control and turn. If you are too heavy you might break the board and you will loose a lot of speed and sink in powder. You can use our snowboard guide to get an idea what board to choose.

Board Flex

As a beginner you should avoid getting a stiff board, as they are harder to turn at slow speeds. The softer flexing snowboards tends to be much easier to control and they are also much more forgiving towards mistakes but less stable at high speed. If you feel confident with your skills and want to go faster and do more carving you might want to get a stiffer board flex to give you better response and edge hold. The flexibility of a snowboard affects its handling and typically varies with the rider's weight. There is no standard way to quantify snowboard stiffness, but beginners and boarders who mostly do rails tend to prefer softer flex, racers stiffer flex, and everyone else something in between. Park riders that enjoy big jumps tend to ride mid to stiff twin boards.

Skill Level

How much experience you have on a snowboard can determine what type of snowboard you get. At an advanced/Expert level, you will need a more specific snowboard. There are specific boards that are designed for the first time buyers / beginner riders that are really easy to progress with and will take you to the next level. Use our search filters to find the perfect board for you.

Beginner

Just starting out up to a few weeks on snow looking for a board to help you progress

Intermediate

You are ahead of the beginners looking to progress and challenge yourself more on a board

Advanced

Riders who have many years experience and looking to take on any part of the mountain and challenge themselves while doing so

Board Profile (Shape from side on)

Camber - This is the traditional shape of Snowboards; a few years back most boards had the Camber shape. Camber arches upwards between the bindings with four contact points near the tip and tail. This shape makes the board springy in and out of turns, which is great when carving. It also makes the board great for popping ollies as the board has a lot of rebound or POP. A Camber board requires a good technique as it is easier to catch an edge. Great for all mountain carving down the mountain and the riding that likes to go fast and need the quick response and edge hold.

Rocker (Reverse Camber) - The exact opposite of Camber. The Board curves upwards from the middle of the board, so that when laid flat the nose and tail are significantly off the ground. The up-turned ends makes it harder to catch an edge and it also raises the nose for better float in powder. This shape is also very popular for park and freestyle riding as it is more forgiving for catching edges on landings and rails with its raised contact points. You may loose a bit of edge hold and pop with a Rocker board, but there are ways to counter for this using; different types of material such as carbon, bamboo to add stiffness where you need it and other constructions techniques, such as ?Magne-traction? or ?Grip tech?. All manufacturers have their own way of doing this.

Flat Base (Zero Camber) - The board is entirely flat from nose to tail. This keeps your entire effective edge on the snow, spreading your weight evenly and making it harder to catch an edge. This makes it great as a beginner board but also very popular for casual free riding, pipe and big air jumps as there is no curve. The flat boards still retain good pop like a cambered board but are less aggressive and catchy which cambered boards tend to be.

Combined Camber - This is a combination between Camber and Rocker in an attempt to get the best of both worlds. You can find rocker in the nose and camber under your feet and rocker again in the tail or Rocker between your contact points. Different manufacturers have their own way of doing this. Lib tech and Nitro for example uses rocker between the contact points and camber under foot and then rocker in the nose and tail, whereas Ride have rocker in the nose and tail with camber between the contact points.

Board Shape (How a snowboard looks from above)

Directional = the stance is "set-back" so you have a longer/ wider nose and a shorter/ stiffer tail (ideal for powder riding and speed!)?

Directional Twin = More similar to a Twin but with a slightly more flexible, slightly longer nose giving increased float in powder (ideal for All Mountain)

Riding Style

Freestyle: Generally shorter with moderate to soft flex. Freestyle boards are typically twin-tip in shape (mirror image along the lateral axis) to enable riding both ways. Incorporates a deep sidecut for quick/tight turning. Used in the pipe and in the park on various jumps and terrain features including boxes, rails, and urban features

Park/Jib (rails): Flexible, soft and short to medium length, twin-tip shape with centre stance designed to ride switch and regular and make easier spinning. Some boards come with detuned or dull edges to avoid catching edges on rails and for a skateboard-park like feel on snow. Playful board designed for park riding

Freeride: Longer than freestyle and park boards. Moderate to stiff in flex and typically directional (versus twin-tip). Used from all-mountain to off-piste and backcountry riding, to 'extreme' big-mountain descents - Powder riding with raised noses and pin tail designs to aid in float in powder.

All-Mountain: Most common. Very versatile board type that could do it all and go anywhere with. It is a mix between freeride and freestyle boards. If you only planning to buy one board and not sure where you want to spend the most time on the mountain, then this is the one for you. Commonly directional or directional twin in shape (twin-tip and centered stance but with more flex on the front or a twin with a directional sidecut)

Splitboard: A snowboard which splits in half lengthwise, and allows the bindings to be quickly connected to hinges aligning them longitudinally on the board like skis. This allows the halves of the boards to function as cross country skis. Used with removable skins on the base of the board, which easily slide forward on snow but not backwards, they allow a snowboard to easily travel into the backcountry and make ascents easier and quicker than hiking. Once the rider is ready to descend, the board halves can simply be joined back together to reform a board.

Wide / Regular / Mid wide

If your boot size is bigger than UK 10.5 you will need to choose a wide board. If you don't, your feet will be in contact with the snow (toe/heel-drag) and interfere with the board's ability to make turns once it is set on edge, or 'get hung up on the snow. You will spend most of your time falling over or loose speed. Mid wide boards are great for heavier riders and riders with size UK 9-11 to give you extra float in powder and more stable platform to ride on.

What kind of snowboarder are you??

When buying snowboard equipment it is useful to have an idea of what kind of snowboarder you are or what kind of snowboarder you want to be!! It seems to be a question you will always be asked.

In order to help, here are some helpful Board Basement definitions of the Snowboarding Types. They are not definitive or exhaustive but should hopefully help you when talking with other boarders:

All Mountain

A snowboarder that explores all areas that the mountain has to offer from: piste/groomed runs, off-piste powder riding , jibbing (pressing and messing around on) natural terrain, moguls, tree runs, terrain parks, mellow or challenging slopes. The majority of snowboarders make up this group. They may have quiver of boards or a good all-rounder.

Freestyle

This snowboarder spends all their time in the Terrain Park or in the half pipe, aka PARK RATS!!! Freestyle is the name for all of the ?trick' orientated snowboarding whether is be jumps, rails, grabs or pipe. Freestyle snowboarding can be sectioned into certain areas:

Jibbing = rail riders, jibbing is also a term used for pressing or ?buttering'and messing around on pistes

Urban/ Street = snowboarding in the streets, a very skate influenced side of snowboarding predominately riding rails. This is creating freestyle features out of handrails, staircases, ledges, walls and other urban landscapes?

Slopestyle = a course of rail and jumps and the most popular format of competitive freestyle snowboarding. A slopestyle course is based around a snow park with rails and kickers or jumps in one run

Pipe = Or half pipe / super pipe is the snowboard equivalent of vert skating. Usually a 18 ? 22 foot halfpipe 20 to 22 feet is a super pipe

Freeride

A snowboarder that roams freely around the mountain without being constricted by designated runs. A snowboarder that likes to ride off-piste and searches for fresh tracks down white, fluffy powder. Also associated with hiking, cliff drops and couloirs. Avalanche training is a necessity and knowing what to do is essential. Having the right safety equipment is a must ? stupidity is punished in the mountains

Back country

This is hard-core free-riding and is when a snowboarder really ventures into the unknown, well off the beaten track,?in search of the ultimate powder fix. Helicopters, snowmobiles and hiking are used to access untouched snow. You have to be very experienced to ride in the back country, or at least be with people that are experienced. Your life can often depend on the experience of those around you. Mountain awareness and training are essential

Racing/Boarder-Cross

This snowboarder is a speed junkie. Spends their days in a Boarder- X course that consists of rollers, whippy jumps, spines and berms or sharp banked corners. The aim is to get to the bottom in the fasted time ahead of the 3 or 4 people you are racing against.

Remember these are loose terms and there are crossovers between the terms. And what you decide to be now may change over time and as you ride more. The key thing in The Board Basements opinion is whatever style you ride, enjoy, be safe and have fun!

The Board Basement caters for every type of snowboarder, and now you know what you are, you can be sure to buy the equipment best suited to your riding style. Use the search filters when buying a snowboard, Boots, Bindings and other products to find the best suited equipment for you.

Rider height

Rider Weight

<49kg

50-59 kg

60-69 kg

70-79 kg

80-89 kg

90-95 kg

96kg +

Progressive

<152cm

<5'0"

146-148

147-149

150-152

153-155

154-156

157-159

158-160

155-169cm

5'1" - 5'6"

147-149

149-151

151-153

154-156

155-157

158-160

159-161

170-184cm

5'7" - 6'0"

149-151

150-152

153-155

155-157

157-159

159-161

161-163

185-196cm

6'1" - 6'5"

150-152

151-153

154-156

157-159

158-160

161-163

162-164

197+

6'6" +

151-153

153-155

155-157

158-160

159-161

162-164

164-166

Rider height

Rider Weight

<49kg

50-59 kg

60-69 kg

70-79 kg

80-89 kg

90-95 kg

96kg +

Jib/Park

<152cm

<5'0"

145-147

146-148

149-151

151-153

153-155

155-157

158-160

155-169cm

5'1" - 5'6"

146-148

147-149

150-152

153-155

154-156

157-159

159-161

170-184cm

5'7" - 6'0"

147-149

149-151

151-153

154-156

155-157

158-160

162-164

185-196cm

6'1" - 6'5"

149-151

150-152

153-155

155-157

157-159

159-161

163-165

197+

6'6" +

150-152

151-153

154-156

157-159

158-160

161-163

164-166

Rider height

Rider Weight

<49kg

50-59 kg

60-69 kg

70-79 kg

80-89 kg

90-95 kg

96kg +

All mountain

<152cm

<5'0"

148-150

150-152

152-154

155-157

156-158

159-161

160-162

155-169cm

5'1" - 5'6"

150-152

151-153

154-156

156-158

158-160

160-162

162-164

170-184cm

5'7" - 6'0"

151-153

152-154

155-157

158-160

159-161

162-164

163-165

185-196cm

6'1" - 6'5"

152-154

154-156

156-158

159-161

160-162

163-165

165+

197+

6'6" +

154-156

155-157

158-160

160-162

162-164

165+

165+

Rider height

Rider Weight

<49kg

50-59 kg

60-69 kg

70-79 kg

80-89 kg

90-95 kg

96kg +

Women's

<152cm

<5'0"

146-148

147-149

150-152

152-154

154-156

156-158

158-160

155-169cm

5'1" - 5'6"

147-149

148-151

151-153

154-156

155-157

158-160

159-161

170-184cm

5'7" - 6'0"

148-151

150-152

152-154

155-157

156-158

159-161

160-162

185-196cm

6'1" - 6'5"

150-152

151-153

154-156

156-158

158-160

160-162

162-164

197+

6'6" +

151-153

152-154

155-157

158-160

159-161

162-164

165+

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If you buy Lib Tech Skatebanana Snowboard 2018 you will be eligible to get following discounts:

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Product

Description

Buy Also

Lib Tech Skatebanana Snowboard 2018

The Skate banana Snowboard from Lib Tech is so popular it is almost a
brand on it own. This board was first introduced to the market back in
2007 and it changed the game completely with the new BTX profile. Since
then, the Skate Banana has been improved and upgraded so it is almost a
completely different board today but with a better and more refined
feel. The Rockered profile makes this more very easy to turn, jib around
on and float in powder. The Magnatraction gives you supreme edge hold
and grip in the most hard-packed conditions. This is a playful and fun
board for the absolute beginner to pro rider. Checkout the key features
below.

Key Features

BTX camber profile - Jib friendly, easy to turn and learn on with
Rocker in the middle and mild camber towards the tip and tail.

Magnetraction edges - Seven points of focused edge control along the
sidecut. Magne-Tractionís strategic serrations provide super good edge
hold and control especially on hard pack and icy surfaces.

TnT Base Material - It's not quite sintered but faster gliding than
you average extruded base

Made in the USA - Made by Snowboarders working in the Mervin factory

Specification

Reverse Camber / Rocker

The opposite of camber. Curves upwards from the middle of the board to the tip and tail. This makes the board looser, more forgiving and generally more fun to play around with. As the nose is raised you get more float in powder. You might loose a bit of edge hold and pop compared to a cambered board.

Twin

Twin boards have a symmetrical shape, which have the same length nose and tail. This makes riding switch a lot easier. These boards are more specific for freestyle and park riding.

Regular

For anyone with boot size below UK 10.5.

Board Flex

Board Flex

Use the slide below to find your preferred board flex. A stiffer board is more stabile at speed and more responsive edge-to-edge. Stiffer boards hold an edge through a turn much better. Stiffer boards require a better technique. Softer boards tend to be easier to turn and are more forgiving, but less solid at higher speed. A soft board is better for butters and presses.

Terrain

Jib & Park

These boards are more specific for the riders who spend most of the time in the park or into urban riding, riding rails. These snowboards have a tendency to be softer in flex and with true twin shape. This is your playful choice.

Jib & Park

These boards are more specific for the riders who spend most of the time in the park or into urban riding, riding rails. These snowboards have a tendency to be softer in flex and with true twin shape. This is your playful choice.

All Mountain & Freestyle Boards

The All Mountain snowboards are the most versatile boards and designed for the rider who likes doing a little bit of everything. From cruising the pistes and playing in the park to riding powder. For a more freestyle orientated board you want a twin or directional twin board. The Freestyle boards are for the riders who like to make the whole mountain into a park.

All Mountain & Freestyle Boards

The All Mountain snowboards are the most versatile boards and designed for the rider who likes doing a little bit of everything. From cruising the pistes and playing in the park to riding powder. For a more freestyle orientated board you want a twin or directional twin board. The Freestyle boards are for the riders who like to make the whole mountain into a park.

Powder & Backcountry

These high spec and lightweight boards are designed to give float in powder with stiffer flex, setback stance and deeper sidecuts. These boards often come with powder specific profiles. Does what it says on the tin really...

Ability Level

Beginner

These Snowboards are designed for the first time buyer who spent a few days or up to 3 weeks on the snow. If you don't want to rent a board and would like your own snowboard that will help you progress to the next level and won't break your bank, you should find it here.

Intermediate

These Snowboards are great for the rider who master their technique and have at least a few weeks on the snow and want something a little bit more challenging and fun to ride.

Advanced

The Advanced snowboards are for the experienced riders that feel very comfortable on a board. These Snowboards are for the hard charging and really skillful rider that wants the board with the highest spec.